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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-1075v1 86/11/3110    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Marchant-Forde, J. N. Articles by Richert, B. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Marchant-Forde, J. N. Articles by Richert, B. T.

The effects of R-salbutamol on behavior and physiology of finishing pigs¹

J. N. Marchant-Forde^*, D. C. Lay, Jr.^* , R. M. Marchant-Forde^*, K. A. McMunn^* and B. T. Richert

^* USDA-ARS, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

jeremy.marchant-forde{at}ars.usda.gov

Abstract

Salbutamol has potential for use as a repartioning agent in swine. The aims of this experiment were to determine effects of salbutamol on behavior and physiology of finishing pigs. The study used 192 pigs (88.8 ± 0.9 kg BW) housed in groups of 6 in 32 pens and assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) Control – 0 ppm salbutamol, 2) 2R – Control diet with 2 ppm of the pure R-enantiomer of salbutamol, 3) 4R – Control diet with 4 ppm of pure R-salbutamol, or 4) 8RS – Control diet with 8 ppm of a 50:50 mixture of R- and S-enantiomers. All diets were offered ad libitum for 4 wk. Salbutamol diets were replaced with control diets 24 to 48 h before slaughter. Behavioral responses to handling during weighing were recorded immediately before assignment to the treatments (wk 0) and at weekly intervals over the next 4-wk period. Behavioral and heart rate (HR) responses to a 10-min human presence test in the home pen were measured during wk 0, wk 1, and wk 3. Heart rate responses to 36-min transportation were recorded. One pig from each pen had blood collected 4 times: during wk 0, 2, 4 and at exsanguination. Blood was analyzed for NEFA, creatine kinase (CK), glucose, lactate, BUN, ammonia, insulin, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Data were analyzed using Proc GLM of SAS, with pen as the experimental unit. Treatment had no effect on time spent lying laterally, overall activity, or time spent alert. Treatment had no effect on handling measures (P > 0.05) or on behavioral responses to human presence (P > 0.05), with all pigs willing to spend similar amounts of time close to and touching the human. However, during the human presence test in wk 1 and wk 3, control pigs had HR around 10 bpm lower (P < 0.05) than pigs in the other 3 treatments. During transport, overall HR were similar across treatments (P > 0.05). However, at certain 1-min time points, control pigs had higher HR than salbutamol-treated pigs (P < 0.05). There were no treatment differences in lactate, epinephrine, or norepinephrine concentrations at any point. During wk 4, Control pigs had lower CK (P < 0.02) and greater BUN (P < 0.005) compared to pigs fed all the salbutamol treatments. The home pen behavior, handling, human presence test, and transport results indicate that salbutamol-treated pigs do not show marked differences in home pen time budgets and behavioral and heart rate responses to handling and transportation compared with control pigs. Thus, salbutamol did not have a negative impact on finishing pig well-being during this study.

Key Words: behavior • husbandry • pigs • physiology • salbutamol